Missouri Could Legalize and Tax Medical Marijuana at 2%
Vote to see how others feel about this issue
What the Initiative Does
Missouri Proposition C would legalize medical marijuana, allowing state-licensed physicians to recommend marijuana use to patients with qualifying conditions. Patients would be allowed to purchase 2.5 ounces of marijuana flower or the equivalent in a 14-day period, and to possess a 60-day supply of marijuana flower or the equivalent.
Medical marijuana sales would be taxed at 2%, and that tax revenue directed to veterans’ services, drug treatment programs, education, and law enforcement. No less than one cannabis center selling marijuana would be authorized per 100,000 state residents.
Argument in Favor
Medical marijuana can benefit many patients, who deserve to be able to access this treatment. The revenue raised from legal marijuana sales would fund fire and police departments, veterans’ services, and other necessary public services.
Argument Against
This is the first step to legalizing all marijuana use, and marijuana can be a gateway drug to other, much more harmful, drugs. The revenue raised isn’t enough to be of much help fund public services, and patients shouldn’t be taxed on medicine.
In-Depth
Missourians for Patient Care (MPC) is leading the campaign in support of Proposition C. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) has also endorsed this ballot measure. MPC describes Proposition C as an opportunity to vote on a best practice for allowing medical marijuana:
“[This ballot measure gives] Missourians the opportunity to vote on allowing patients with certain medical conditions to have access to medical cannabis. This measure takes the best practices learned from other successful initiatives in other states so that patients have the option to alleviate pain without the side effects of heavy prescription medications.”
Citizens for SAFE Medicine is leading the campaign opposed to Proposition C. Several medical groups that are also opposed to the bill argue that although certain parts of the cannabis plant have legitimate medical uses, broad-based marijuana programs like the one proposed in this ballot measure provide access to products that aren’t sold in standard dosages or purities.
John Hagan, an ophthalmologist and past president of the Kansas City Medical Society, contends that cannabis-based treatments should come in standardized, FDA-tested products, just like other drugs. Dr. Hagan contends that “approving medical treatments by ballot initiatives sets a dangerous precedent for public health.”
State governmental entities that there will be $2.6 million in initial setup costs for this program. It would then cost $10 million to administer on an ongoing basis, and generate annual revenues of at least $10 million. Local government entities estimate no annual cost, and are expected to have at least $152,000 in annual revenues.
There are three ballot measures on medical marijuana before Missouri voters this year, each with slightly different programmatic guidelines and revenue generation potential. If more than one of these ballot measures passes, the question of which one becomes law will likely be referred to the courts, as there’s conflict over what state laws say about this possibility.
The state constitution says that when conflicting measures are approved, the one with the most votes wins. However, another statute provides separate rules for approved statutes and amendments, raising questions about what would happen if Proposition C and one, or both, of the proposed amendments were to pass.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which prefers an amendment over a statutory change to legalize medical marijuana, writes that:
“If voters legalize medical marijuana via Prop C, lawmakers could reverse it because it’s a mere statutory change. But both amendments would legalize it by changing the state constitution, tying legislators’ hands.”
Summary by Lorelei Yang
(Photo Credit: iStockphoto.com / LPETTET)
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